Rockets GM DARYL MOREY has "collaborated with playwright MICKLE MAHER on a treatment for a musical he titled 'SMALL BALL,'" according to Hunter Atkins of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. The premise of the play is that the residents of Lilliput "want to join an international basketball league." In order to "be competitive enough for that, they import 'Michael Jordan,' a man who turns out not to be the NBA Hall-of-Famer but happens to have the same name." Morey said that the show "will debut in Houston within 18 months." Atkins noted Morey "dreamed of immersing himself in musical theater" before taking his current professional path. He also "almost became an investor" in the Broadway smash "HAMILTON." Before the play "became a sensation, Morey introduced himself to the show's creator, LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA, and gifted him a JEREMY LIN jersey." The two also attended Nets games together. Morey "wanted in on this 'Hamilton' project he was hearing so much about," but he ultimately was "unwilling to put up the seven-figure funds the show garnered from other backers." Morey recently did help finance the "comedy musical 'DISASTER!' by SETH RUDETSKY," watching early showings and joining celebs like MATTHEW BRODERICK, TINA FEY and ROSIE O'DONNELL for opening night (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 12/25).
